MONTPELIER ó A Montpelier-based media outlet says a $75,000 grant will help create two positions as well as databases with an aim to increase political accountability.

The Vermont Journalism Trust, a nonprofit that runs VTDigger.org, was awarded a matching grant to help create databases and help fund full-time positions for a publisher and a database staffer, said the trustís executive director, Anne Galloway, on Wednesday.

The organization now employs five full-time staff and two part-timers.

The award was one of 25 for journalism organizations across the country. The Oklahoma City-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation distributed the grants, which totaled $2.8 million.

The trust is working to raise the matching amount, Galloway said.

The news outlet has not had a publisher previously. Galloway, who founded VTDigger.org, has split her time between editing and publishing duties.

One of the databases will be a new campaign finance database that can be a resource for reporters.